Intermittent stalling ... any ideas.

[Splitpin]

Before i spend $85 per hour on a BMW tech , may i share with the group a little problem Im having ... and perhaps resolve it.
The German has taken to stalling for no reason (that i can see) not all the time , but more than i would like.
Seems to be when Im at the lights , its just cuts out ... starts again no problem, and sometimes when driving i can feel it cut out , and come back again.
I did notice the other day while stuck in traffic , the rpm went from idle to about 500-800 rpm above normal , twice , and after that it was fine. (a kind of surge)

Ive replaced or repaired everything from the bonnet badge to the boot ... i do notice that the transmission is very slow to change when its cold , if i let it warm up for 5mins its fine , but otherwise it seems to lock into 1st unless you floor it (which i hate doing to a cold motor ) ....fluids are fine.
As i said , Ive done major work on the bloody thing .... but just thinking about it , i havent changed the plugs ..... because i cant find them

Could it just be plugs ?

[Yob]

QUOTE (Splitpin @ Jun 12 2014,10:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Before i spend $85 per hour on a BMW tech , may i share with the group a little problem Im having ... and perhaps resolve it.
The German has taken to stalling for no reason (that i can see) not all the time , but more than i would like.
Seems to be when Im at the lights , its just cuts out ... starts again no problem, and sometimes when driving i can feel it cut out , and come back again.
I did notice the other day while stuck in traffic , the rpm went from idle to about 500-800 rpm above normal , twice , and after that it was fine. (a kind of surge)

Ive replaced or repaired everything from the bonnet badge to the boot ... i do notice that the transmission is very slow to change when its cold , if i let it warm up for 5mins its fine , but otherwise it seems to lock into 1st unless you floor it (which i hate doing to a cold motor ) ....fluids are fine.
As i said , Ive done major work on the bloody thing .... but just thinking about it , i havent changed the plugs ..... because i cant find them

Could it just be plugs ?

Or leads..... My bro had a very similar problem, can't recall how he fixed it though.

[Sonnyj]

Fuel filter?? failing fuel pump, bad crank sensor...or you have a leak in the air intake system, if it runs lean the revs will increase ??

Wot model you got? I 525i 2001.

I have found these forums VERY good.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/

[Splitpin]

QUOTE (Sonnyj @ Jun 13 2014,5:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Fuel filter?? failing fuel pump, bad crank sensor...or you have a leak in the air intake system, if it runs lean the revs will increase ??

Wot model you got? I 525i 2001.

I have found these forums VERY good.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/

Sonny its a 98 525i .... the options sound expensive . Looking back , this just started after i hit a huge puddle in the dark during our last flood , pushed water over the bonnet , maybe something got hit. Its not happening all the time , last 2 days its been good .
I will check bimmerfest , Im a member over there.
Thanks for the reply .... you to Ej
By the way Sonny .... where are the plugs i cant even find a lead .... to nervous to touch anything .

[omitchell]

QUOTE (Splitpin @ Jun 13 2014,5:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sonny its a 98 525i .... the options sound expensive . Looking back , this just started after i hit a huge puddle in the dark during our last flood , pushed water over the bonnet , maybe something got hit. Its not happening all the time , last 2 days its been good .
I will check bimmerfest , Im a member over there.
Thanks for the reply .... you to Ej
By the way Sonny .... where are the plugs i cant even find a lead .... to nervous to touch anything .

Check for water under the alternator cap if it has one (That used to be a problem in the old Escorts, hit a big enough puddle and water got under the alternator causing it to stall out and to keep doing it if you didn't dry the rotor off). Being a 525 I'll assume it's an auto so probably not clutch related, fuel filter or fuel pump? Lost my fuel pump on my old Subaru which caused it to stall out.

[Ian Warren]

Marty, go to the Christchurch Library, brother Allan had problems with a vehicle and this was in Wagga Wagga of 60,000 'pop' and they the entire collection in the City Library 1995 tho it was a Nissan, not a BMW but it will give you solutions ... "The Haynes" car manual maybe almost worth buying a copy from Amazon on the type, originally what the books were designed for was car manuals ! always worth to keeping with the car?

[Splitpin]

Cheers Ian , Im going to take it to a car sparky i found today ... he can scan the system , and he has all the fault codes , and hes cheaper than the BM dealer .
Once i get a diagnoses I'll decide what to do . I dont think its much , these things are covered in sensors , and i may have disturbed one .

Wow , gone are the days of my first car (or one of) a 1957 Velox .... so simple to work on , but now
Anyway , the manual idea is a good one , Im looking on the net for one now.
The thing is with these fly by wire cars , somethings cant be fixed by hand .... they a computer reset . And a lot of the basic things are so different you dont know what your looking at.

Its odd , i have two old 1992 Corolla's , both have more than 200,000k's and they owe me nothing .... but i suppose you really cant compare them with Herman the German.... no you cant, so that was a pointless statement

[omitchell]

QUOTE (Splitpin @ Jun 14 2014,7:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Cheers Ian , Im going to take it to a car sparky i found today ... he can scan the system , and he has all the fault codes , and hes cheaper than the BM dealer .
Once i get a diagnoses I'll decide what to do . I dont think its much , these things are covered in sensors , and i may have disturbed one .

Wow , gone are the days of my first car (or one of) a 1957 Velox .... so simple to work on , but now
Anyway , the manual idea is a good one , Im looking on the net for one now.
The thing is with these fly by wire cars , somethings cant be fixed by hand .... they a computer reset . And a lot of the basic things are so different you dont know what your looking at.

Its odd , i have two old 1992 Corolla's , both have more than 200,000k's and they owe me nothing .... but i suppose you really cant compare them with Herman the German.... no you cant, so that was a pointless statement

So there will be a BMW on Trade Me soon or even in the Sunday comp?

[Splitpin]

QUOTE (omitchell @ Jun 14 2014,7:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So there will be a BMW on Trade Me soon or even in the Sunday comp?

Maybe next week .... You know , a mate and i found another one (525) thought we could make some money on it ... but we pissed around , and in the end just about gave it away.
If i had , had some where to put it , i would have been sorted for parts now .... but you do what you do .

[omitchell]

QUOTE (Splitpin @ Jun 14 2014,7:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maybe next week .... You know , a mate and i found another one (525) thought we could make some money on it ... but we pissed around , and in the end just about gave it away.
If i had , had some where to put it , i would have been sorted for parts now .... but you do what you do .

open a chop shop?

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (Splitpin @ Jun 14 2014,8:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Cheers Ian , Im going to take it to a car sparky i found today ... he can scan the system , and he has all the fault codes , and hes cheaper than the BM dealer .

Guess that is the better way , never own a car but it like anything now require computers to watch what they do, get water in those same with bikes they throw a fit.

[omitchell]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Jun 14 2014,8:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

get water in those same with bikes they throw a fit.

Sounds like kids...

[lowglow]

I would doubt that it has a problem with the plugs or leads if the engine is running fine other than the stalling problem. I would go with the air leak problem, when it does idle is it smooth or erratic, low or high? Something you could check is how clean the throttle body is just pull the intake pipe to the throttle body off and run your finger around the inside of the throttle body you may need to open the throttle, if your finger comes out black it could do with a clean. You can buy Throttle body cleaner from Repco or Super Cheap also have a good look around for damaged or fallen off vacuum hoses and wiring plugs the PCV valve could also be the cause

[Splitpin]

Thanks for looking LG .... I went over to where i have it parked , and took it for a spin .... no problem.
The idle is smooth , nothing happened. Will check in the morning for anything that looks out of place , but as Ive said , i really dont know what Im looking at

[omitchell]

QUOTE (Splitpin @ Jun 14 2014,9:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for looking LG .... I went over to where i have it parked , and took it for a spin .... no problem.
The idle is smooth , nothing happened. Will check in the morning for anything that looks out of place , but as Ive said , i really dont know what Im looking at

Sell the Beemer and get a 1976 Ford Escort, bloody thing will never die on ya and if it does, wait 5 mins...

[lowglow]

QUOTE (omitchell @ Jun 14 2014,9:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sell the Beemer and get a 1976 Ford Escort, bloody thing will never die on ya and if it does, wait 5 mins...

Do you have any idea what you would pay for a 1976 Escort now if you could find one for sale?

[Splitpin]

QUOTE (omitchell @ Jun 14 2014,9:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sell the Beemer and get a 1976 Ford Escort, bloody thing will never die on ya and if it does, wait 5 mins...

I was parked beside one the other day ... great little car, it was a Mk2 and it was mint. But one of those is worth more than the beam.

[omitchell]

QUOTE (Splitpin @ Jun 14 2014,9:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was parked beside one the other day ... great little car, it was a Mk2 and it was mint. But one of those is worth more than the beam.

Irony. This folks is the greatest example...

[Splitpin]

QUOTE (omitchell @ Jun 14 2014,10:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Irony. This folks is the greatest example...

Not long ago i had a couple of people stay here from the U.K , and they came back one afternoon all excited because they saw a Capri , an Escort and a Cortina .
According to them , these would be piles of rust back in England.

[omitchell]

QUOTE (Splitpin @ Jun 14 2014,10:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not long ago i had a couple of people stay here from the U.K , and they came back one afternoon all excited because they saw a Capri , an Escort and a Cortina .
According to them , these would be piles of rust back in England.

Back in England the Cortina would be called a Granada lol